About
A vigorous, woody, deciduous or semi-evergreen, twining climber to 4m tall, with red young shoots and oval, mid-green to grey-green downy leaves. Tubular, 2-lipped, scented red flowers with white throats, age to orange-yellow, and produced in large clusters, early to midsummer, followed by red berries.
About the genus
Lonicera can be deciduous and evergreen shrubs, or climbers with twining stems. The tubular or two-lipped flowers, often very fragrant, are followed by red or black berries
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous, Semi evergreen
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants
FragranceFlower
ToxicityFruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
CultivationGrow this climbing honeysuckle in full sun, and thrives in any fertile, moist but well-drained soil. See Honeysuckle (Climbing) cultivation
PruningPruning group 11 after flowering
PropagationPropagate by layering, softwood cuttings, semi-ripe cuttings, leaf-bud cuttings and hardwood cuttings
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to honeysuckle aphids, thrips and glasshouse whitefly
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews, leaf spot (fungal) and silver leaf